I am grateful that I like to read. It's relaxing and soothing and it distracts me from what's going on around me. I didn't always like to read. When I was in middle school I was in a development reading class, apparently I didn't read at the level of all my other 7th grade peers. I felt like I was
stupid and of course, it was embarrassing as all my friends were in the regular class. By 8th grade I was moved up with my friends, but the notion that I didn't read well still resonated with me. It wasn't until college, that I started enjoying reading. When I had down time or if I was stressed, I would pick up a book and escape from reality. The JA Jance detective series were one of my favorites at the time. I still love novels, historical fiction in particular. I also enjoy reading newspapers and National Geographic magazine. I like to learn about other cultures, customs and peoples opinions.
Ideally I would love an hour every day to read. But mostly I just settle on the 10 minutes before bed. After I've read the same page 3 times and I can barely keep my eyes open, it's time to turn out the light. I am currently reading The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax. I have a big stack of books on my bed side table, another stack on the floor and about 100 on my kindle.
I just finished reading Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan while we were in Maui. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the luxury of sitting for about two hours on this beach to do nothing but relax and read, along with a few dips in the warm ocean.
Reading opens your eyes to the world, helps with vocabulary, improves memory and analytical thinking. And it makes us smarter. I am very grateful that I like to read.
What are you thankful for?